7 Best Earplugs for Sleeping

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Earplugs are effective and affordable tools to create a more restful sleeping environment. However, one size doesn’t fit all, and different earplug designs suit different sleeping types.

Best overall for sleeping:Flents Quiet Please Earplugs | Skip to Review
Best for people with wide ear canals:Howard Leight MAX-1 Foam Earplugs | Skip to Review
Best for comfort:Mack’s Pillow Soft Silicone Putty Earplugs | Skip to Review
Best for reuse:Hearprotek Sleeping Earplugs | Skip to Review
Best for people with small ear canals:Ohropax Classic Wax Earplugs | Skip to Review
Best for noise masking:Bose Sleepbuds II | Skip to Review
Best custom-molded earplugs for sleeping:Radians Custom Molded Earplugs | Skip to Review

If honking horns or a snoring partner keep you awake, you already know what science has confirmed : Noise adversely affects sleep quality and health.

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High quality earplugs are a simple fix for a loud sleep environment, since they reduce noise significantly. Even better, no earplug is designed to block out noise completely, so you won’t have to worry about sleeping through your alarm clock or an emergency.

We kept an eye (and ear) out for the best earplugs available to help those seeking a quieter night’s sleep. Here’s what we found.

We zeroed in on some of the best earplug options out there by considering a range of prices, materials, and design. We looked at features, such as:

comfort
ease of use
noise reduction ability

Noise reduction rating (NRR) is an average reduction of noise with directed use in laboratory tests. We include an NRR with the products listed below — products with higher NRRs can reduce noise better than products with lower NRRs.

We analyzed the claims made by each product manufacturer, and we contrasted them with user critiques and reviews to provide you with accurate information.

Pricing guide

Best overall earplugs for sleeping

Flents Quiet Please Earplugs

Low-tech foam earplugs are still considered by many to be the most effective type for blocking out noise. To use foam earplugs effectively, you’ll need to fit them appropriately in your ear. This internal positioning is what makes them so effective.

Flents Quiet Please Earplugs are cylindrical with flattened sides. These foam earplugs are designed to lie flat inside the opening of the ear, making them a more comfortable choice for side sleepers.

They get high marks for being malleable and expandable, making them a good choice for most ear canal sizes. Since they don’t taper at one end, they may provide a more thorough seal when inserted in the ear. However, you might find that you dislike that amount of pressure in your ear.

Like all foam earplugs, only use them once to eliminate buildup of bacteria.

Try this for fit

Roll the ends of the earplugs into a shape and size that feels appropriate for your ear canal, and place them partially inside. Hold them in place to let them expand and create a seal.

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Best earplugs for sleeping for people with wide ear canals

Howard Leight MAX-1 Foam Earplugs

Price: $
NRR: 33 decibels
Pro: good for people in loud, industrial environments
Con: not suitable for small ears

For people with wide ear canals, these foam earplugs may provide a better fit than other foam types. They are bell-shaped and contoured to stay in place.

Howard Leight earplugs are designed to provide hearing protection for people who work around loud noises and industrial environments. So these earplugs also feature a fairly high NRR (33 decibels), making them a good choice for blocking out loud parties and other noises.

Like all foam earplugs, they’re designed for one-time use.

Most comfortable earplugs for sleeping

Mack’s Pillow Soft Silicone Putty Earplugs

Unlike foam earplugs, putty earplugs cover the outer opening of the ear, instead of plugging the ear canal. This makes them more comfortable for people who find foam earplugs irritating, itchy, or too pressurized.

Mack’s Pillow Soft Silicone Putty Earplugs have an NRR of 22 decibels. According to the manufacturer, the earplugs are best suited for reducing constant background noises rather than sharp bursts.

They’re easy to mold to your ear opening’s shape and comfortable for most users to wear. Some find them a tad too large or waxy to the touch.

In addition to providing noise reduction during sleep, these earplugs can reduce ear pressure and pain while flying. They’re also waterproof and can be used in the pool or at the beach if you want to protect your ears from moisture.

Best reusable earplugs for sleeping

Hearprotek Sleeping Earplugs

These earplugs feature a double-layer ergonomic design, using air pockets between layers as additional soundproofing. They’re made of soft, washable silicone.

Best earplugs for people with small ear canals

Ohropax Classic Wax Earplugs

Price: $$
NRR: 23 decibels
Pro: may provide tighter seal than other foam or silicone types
Con: some users find them sticky

Ohropax Classic earplugs are made from wax and cotton. They’re moldable to the ear and designed to completely seal the ear’s entrance.

These earplugs are made to be comfortable and durable, though some users find them sticky or oily. For that reason, they may be uncomfortable for people with long hair that might stick to them while sleeping.

They’re reusable, which might make them a more affordable choice over time. People with small ear canals often find that these provide a better fit and tighter seal than foam or silicone types.

Best earbuds for noise masking

Bose Sleepbuds II

Price: $$$
Pro: good for people with tinnitus
Con: need to be recharged daily and only mask external noise

Bose is well known for noise-canceling technology, though this is different from noise masking. The Sleepbuds mask, instead of block or cancel, external noise — that’s why they don’t have an NRR. They’re like tiny white noise machines that fit snugly into your ears.

They connect to an app that provides you with a library of white noise and environmental nature sounds to choose from. You can also choose the volume and duration of play. There’s an alarm function if you want to use them to wake you up, too.

If you have tinnitus, these may be a good choice for you. The American Tinnitus Association notes that many people with this condition find relief with sound masking.

These sleep earbuds come with three tips, so you can choose the best fit for your ears. The design, which uses a mix of durable plastic, has comfort in mind — even for side sleepers.

These Sleepbuds need to be recharged daily and will hold a charge for about 8 hours.

Users report that the Sleepbuds are excellent for masking transportation sounds, such as traffic. For some people, they don’t work as well for snoring.

Best custom-molded earplugs for sleeping

Radians Custom Molded Earplugs

Price: $
NRR: 26 decibels
Pro: custom-molded to your ears
Con: takes 10 minutes to make both earplugs

Custom-molded earplugs are designed to provide you with a personalized fit. This do-it-yourself kit from Radians includes silicone material that you mold into earplugs. It takes around 10 minutes to make both earplugs, and users say it’s easy to do.

In addition to blocking out sound effectively, custom-molded earplugs can be washed, making them very cost-effective.

Still searching for the right sleep products?

Let us help. We provide evidence-driven reviews and brand comparisons on top sleep products, like pillows and mattresses, so you can get the sound sleep you deserve.

7 Best Earplugs for Sleeping